CONCORD BUILDING

At the center of the Midtown area is Maple Crossing and an 84-year-old building named The Concord. Situated at the northwest corner of 38th and Illinois streets, the 10,000 square-foot building has been the talk of the neighborhood for years.

In its past, The Concord was home to a cigar shop, drug store, ice cream shop, restaurant, and “a place to buy Cherry Cokes for 10 cents,” says a long-time resident.

The building was once a destination that residents loved and and patronized. Until Midtown Indy purchased the building in 2016, it had been largely vacant for more than two decades leaving the two-story space neglected and in need of restoration. Midtown Indy acquired the building to return it back to the people it used to serve — its neighbors. A series of listening sessions open to the public were organized to find out what the community needed and wanted to see happen in the space.

Since the building has been under renovation, passersby have come in and shared what they want to see next. The priorities identified by the community include the provision of basic groceries through a winter farmers market and/or the establishment of a concept grocer. Additionally, it was suggested to host a series of community-based supportive events such as a neighborhood museum or a competition-style program that supports local entrepreneurship.
Midtown Indy’s revitalization intent is in line with community’s requests and the building’s name — to bring concord and harmony back to an historic building and the communities it serves. The collaborative effort to restore the building is catalytic to the collective vision for the heart of Midtown at Maple Crossing.